Best immersive display for single HDMI output

[greaneyr]

Hi all

It's been many years since I've been active on these forums. I've been a long time flight simmer over the years, but other than a brief dabble with XPlane 10, I've done virtually nothing since the late 2000s. Seeing FS2020's preview a couple of years back, I knew that that was going to be the tool to get me back into simming again. And now I have.

I've chosen the XBox Series X as the console. I did that rather than spend considerably more money, and also to have to research the current state of gaming PC hardware, then likely buy something that still doesn't run it at full detail. Years ago, I enjoyed tinkering. Now, what I want is a point-and-shoot simulator.

The only drawback with this decision (I knew it at the time) is that the Xbox only has a single HDMI output. Back when I was active with FS9, I experimented using a fresnel lens hung in front of my 17" CRT monitor, and the realism was so good that nothing has ever quite topped it for me. It's not the just the size increase that makes the difference, it's the fact that it moves the focal point out to infinity. Those who wear glasses for distance vision will need them for a screen that's only 50cm away. This just made it really feel like you were looking outside at a runway in the distance, rather than looking at one on a screen that's so close you could reach out and touch it.

I'm curious to hear what suggestions others have for creating immersive displays in 2021. Fresnel lenses never seemed to take off. Maybe it was the distorting or chromatic aberrations, I'm not sure. I do have a large wall I could use to project onto if I use a projector, but then I have the added challenge of mounting it, and also the cost (of buying and running it). Potentially, the image quaity won't be as good either. Another thought that crossed my mind was FPV goggles that could display 1080p. Or, of course, there's the standard option of getting one large flatscreen TV.

Being that I'm using an Xbox, I won't be able to use a separate display for instruments, so will be flying the whole time from virtual cockpit, so the instruments need to be readable through whatever display i choose.

At the moment, there's no one idea that's standing up as favourable or unfavourable.

Does anyone have any thoughts around this?

[deaneb]

I was considering 3 options, multiple monitor, projector with wrap around screen and VR. I went for the cheapest option - VR. I have got the HP Reverb G2 which runs 2160x2160 per eye. The immersion is amazing. The downside is of course you cannot see your control devices so have to go by feel. With all options, there are trade-offs.

[greaneyr]

Which console? PC or Xbox?

Since writing my last post, I've also realised that VR headsets are an option I really need to consider. I'm trying to find out whether an XBox will happily drive a VR headset that takes an HDMI source and whether the headset will be happy. The PS VR, I know, insists on being connected to a PS even when receiving HDMI from an independent source, so isn't really a practical option.

[toprob]

I'm not at all sure that there has been any real movement into Xbox VR. When MSFS was released there was talk of hints within the sim, something called 'Scarlett VR', with Scarlett being the code name of the new xboxes, but it obviously hasn't been high on their list of cool things to do. However if anything was going to drive VR development on the Xbox, it would be MSFS.

[greaneyr]

No, there hasn't as far as I'm aware. It seems to be something MS are allergic to, or deliberately avoiding. I would be fine just using a VR headset as a display, with no motion awareness whatsoever. There are plenty of VR headsets that people use for watching movies on, so I assume they can take a regular HDMI input without any problem, but I obviously want to make sure.

[Radar88]

Sorry to inform, that if you have the Microsoft XBox Series X as a gaming console.

VR is not supported on the Microsoft XBox console platform.

In terms of the best immersive monitor displays in 2021 for use with both PC and Xbox, that would be a 49" Ultrawide Monitor.

Currently the best of the best, is the expensive NZD $3699.00 Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Gaming Monitor with a 240hz Mini LED panel, it delivers an immersive 32:9 aspect ratio.

Watch on youtube.com

Or you could look at SimPit Technologies a New Zealand company located in Leithfield North Canterbury, that specializes in advanced simulation with large cylindrical projector screens that requires short throw projectors. Their Avenger PRO 202 has an extended field of view to 202º also expensive NZD $3,450 the website claims it's the ultimate gaming display – 128″ of pure awesome in 2K to 12K

Watch on youtube.com

If you have a high end gaming PC with a recent modern GPU, then in terms of the best immersive VR Headset available would be the HP Reverb G2. However the best of the best of the current consumer line-up of VR Headsets, has just recently been announced with this hour long live stream video Varjo Aero Launch Event – October 21, 2021.

The "Varjo Aero" is a state of the art, High-end VR Headset, that's been requested by Flight Simulation enthusiasts, from all around the world.

The Varjo Aero features a cutting-edge optical design that propels users to a new level of visual fidelity, pushing the pixels tighter together directly in front of you. The variable resolution lenses create an ultra-sharp peak resolution of 5760 x 2720 with 35 PPD, right at the centre of focus where it matters most – mimicking the way the human eye works. Alternative commercially available headsets max out closer to 20 PPD.

Compared to the murky experience of consumer-grade Fresnel lenses, the lenses in the Varjo Aero are Aspheric, offering an incredible true-to-life visual experience that makes god rays and the screen-door effect a thing of the past.

It features Dual mini-LED displays, 150 nits of brightness, and a 115° field of view for stunning edge-to-edge clarity, Eye Tracking and Automatic IPD adjustment.

Watch on youtube.com

Watch on youtube.com

[Charl]

That Varjo looks very good indeed.
Will make a bit of a dent in the bank account: $3.5k with some extra bits, $2k? for the video card upgrade, unless you are lucky enough to run an RTX 3070 already.
But wait! What's this?
Win11 announces my one-off-bleeding-edge PC from just the other day... NOT good enough for the new OS??
Oh my. MSFS will have to wait a little longer still.

[greaneyr]

Wow, thanks a lot for the amazingly informative response!

The ultrawide monitor would be amazing to use, however it seems that, while an XBox can drive it, it will only display a 16:9 image, with black bars at the edges. It looks like my two options are still either a projector or very large flatscreen TV. I'll have to try and get the 'immersion' factor through the display's size alone.